Two sides. One single perspective.
Between the real and the imagined, Celso Mathias' art constructs territories where memory,
Affection, observation, and invention are in constant dialogue.
The world seen up close.
Landscapes, seascapes, cities, boats, people, and scenes of everyday life. A painting constructed from observation, direct experience, and presence in the world.
On this side, Celso Mathias works with observational drawing and painting, exploring different techniques and languages to record not only what he sees, but also what remains in his memory.
From live sketches to the most elaborate paintings, the interest lies in the encounter between reality, perception, and interpretation.
To observe is also to transform what one sees.
The world seen up close.
Landscapes, seascapes, cities, boats, people, and scenes of everyday life. A painting constructed from observation, direct experience, and presence in the world.
On this side, Celso Mathias works with observational drawing and painting, exploring different techniques and languages to record not only what he sees, but also what remains in his memory.
From live sketches to the most elaborate paintings, the interest lies in the encounter between reality, perception, and interpretation.
To observe is also to transform what one sees.
The world that emerges when reality is no longer enough.
Dreamlike images, creatures, fantastical worlds, symbolic figures, and landscapes that exist between dreams and imagination.
In this aspect, Celso Mathias moves away from direct representation to investigate the territory of the unconscious, the strange, and the imaginary. Paintings and drawings often emerge from stains, accidents, unexpected forms, and associations that reveal new images during the process itself.
It is an art of freedom, experimentation, and discovery — where there isn't necessarily a world to represent, but a world to invent.
Imagining is also a way of seeing.
The world seen up close.
Landscapes, seascapes, cities, boats, people, and scenes of everyday life. A painting constructed from observation, direct experience, and presence in the world.
On this side, Celso Mathias works with observational drawing and painting, exploring different techniques and languages to record not only what he sees, but also what remains in his memory.
From live sketches to the most elaborate paintings, the interest lies in the encounter between reality, perception, and interpretation.
To observe is also to transform what one sees.
THE ARTIST
Celso Mathias is a visual artist, illustrator, painter, and literary author with over four decades dedicated to creation. Born and residing in Rio de Janeiro, he has built a career where image and narrative go hand in hand: his paintings, drawings, and books are born from the same impulse.
To explore the visible and the invisible.
